KathDMD - "Oh my" is corect. You know the kinda mood I'm in when I tear up the pages writing that. Just let that sink in a few minutes. Needless to say, I did enjoy writing that, but the next few episodes will be the fallout, and...ah crap, I better not give it away, but you will not be disappointed. I knew you'd like Tails' comments, and I enjoy writing those as well. As for Wade and Soltron...well, just keep reading. *shifty eyes*
cubbieBlueMako - Like i told ya, look for the next episode of Lion Force for KA Goodness! I'm actually working on episode 2 as I write this...
lovecastle989 - Of course there has to be a robeast battle! But Wade isn't gonna let this be the end. Keep reading, you'll see where I'm going with this. ;) And yearh, Tails does need to lay off those two, but the two of them need to get over the strange communication barrier that seems to be breaking down before their eyes.
selena devargo - I have alot planned for this season! That's why I split the teams into different stories. I want the "Jet Force" to have more depth, and this will allow me to explore our favorite OC team in depth. By the way, look for some Lysette in this chapter ;)
amblewat - Yeah, it'll be a good idea to start with Season 1 and work your way through. Pretend you're watching Netflix. (LOL) Also, don't forget to check out "In The End" by KathDMD, as well as "Deception" by Selena Devargo, as both stories tie into this series. (I play in KathDMD's universe alot)
Author's Note - I'm excited that the Season 4 premier got such attention! You know, i love writing this, but it is so fan driven, you can't begin to imagine! I always want to thank the readers for continuing to support me, and this series. That's what truly keeps me writing. And again, a special thanks to KathDMD...because without my muse, I am nothing.
Theme Music : "Break Free" Ariana Grande ft. Zedd
Disclaimer - Voltron and all associated characters are the property of WEP. Space Marshall Lenora Hawkins and associated characters are the property of KathDMD. Lieutenant Lysette Fabrere and associated characters are the property of selena devargo.
Episode 80 : "Break Free"
"Papa," she said softly, "I'm sorry."
"You don't need to apologize for things that are out of your control," Olan replied. "The past is the past. I don't know of any way you can change that, young one. For now, we need to protect you."
"Protect me?" she said, shuddering. "From who, papa?"
"They still see you as a threat," he replied. "Your mother's power is in your veins. They still fear you. Those like you."
"Like me?" she asked.
"The Drules," he replied. "The kingdoms that exist along the border of the Denubian Galaxy have aligned with dark forces. The sheer power they wield can only be described in terms of the Old Ones. A young man with the blood of millions on his hands has single handedly drawn these forces together, and it is this 'empire' that wants to make sure the power you have is never used against them."
"Who is this man?" she asked, looking up at her papa with bright yellow eyes.
"Kanji Red," he replied, "Destroyer of Worlds."
Dariana sat up in bead and began to breathe heavily. Roxy and tails came running in, Tails almost tripping over her own nightgown.
"What's wrong?" Roxy asked.
"Don't!" she shouted, waving her arms around frantically, still in a daze. "Don't break up my family!"
"Dammit, Kovinx, snap out of it!" Roxy shouted. Dariana rubbed her eyes, and as the girls came into focus, she let out a sigh.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Another dream?" Roxy asked. Dariana nodded.
"Yes," she said. "I'm sorry, when I saw you, Roxy, I just thought…"
"It's ok," she said, draping an arm around her. "We're here. We're not going anywhere."
"I've been thinking a lot about you and JC," Dariana said. Roxy frowned.
"He's a snartbag who only cares about one thing," Roxy replied. Dariana frowned.
"He's my friend," Dariana replied, "and my family. He's NOT a snartbag!"
"Ok, ok," Roxy said with a sigh. "I don't want to get you upset."
"It all ties in with the dream," Dariana replied, slightly louder than usual. "The man, Kovinx's papa, stated that an evil man, a young Drule, brought together the kingdoms along the border of the Denubian Galaxy, and unified them into an empire that sought to conquer the entire universe."
"That's History 101, Dari," Tails replied. "Every cadet knows the history of how the Drule Empire came into being."
"But no one ever knew how or why," Dariana replied. "One man unified the kingdoms. His name was Kanji Red. Kovinx's papa called him 'Destroyer of Worlds', because he had been responsible for annihilating entire civilizations."
"Do you think Kovinx may be trying to warn you about something like this returning?" Roxy asked.
"After defeating Syn," Dariana replied, "I felt a wave of anger I've never felt before…and it wasn't Syn. The Old Ones Kovinx's papa spoke of seemed hell bent on bending the universe to their whim, and there's no doubt that if Syn was released, then the chances of Kanji, or something like him, could very well come into existence." She looked into Roxy's eyes with her piercing yellow ones. "We can't allow ourselves to fall victim to hate. If we don't stay a team, we will lose."
"Nothing's gonna happen to the team," Tails said, giving Dariana a hug. "Right, Roxy?"
"Long as JC stays out of my way," she replied, "everything will be fine." Dariana let out a defeated sigh. The look of worry on her face never left.
General Krai Soltorn slowly opened her eyes and held her head, which was now throbbing with intense pain. As she got to her feet, her hands grazed across a narrow force shield that surrounded the extremely confined area around her. She looked around and saw a scrawny looking individual with his back to her, working at a control panel.
"Where am I?" she asked. "What is the meaning of this?" The figure turned around, a sadistic grin on his face, and for a moment, a mechanical eye popped out of its socket, flew up to the forcefield, looked her up and down, then returned from whence it came.
"Ah, good," Maahox said, "you're finally awake. Pity you had to be unconscious through half of the process. It's clearly not as fun for me that way."
"Who are you?" She shouted. "I demand to be released from here at once!"
"General Soltorn," he replied, "I am Maahox, expert in the Occult Sciences, and….exile of Calum. As for releasing you, well, I can't very well do that." Upon hearing his name, she had remembered bringing him back from the dead.
"Why not?" she scowled.
"First of all, because for the past seventy-two hours I've been bombarding you with gigarads for radiation," he replied. "And second, because I'm under orders from Marshall Wade to keep you here until the project is finished."
"WADE?" she shouted. She then began violently pounding on the force shield. Maahox let out a sigh.
"Come now, General," he said, "why must all my test subjects continue to struggle? This would be so much easier, although less painful, if you simply accepted your fate."
"This is not an honorable death!" she shouted, spitting at him. The spit hit the force shield and evaporated.
"Who said anything about dying?" he said with a grin. "I'm actually hoping you survive the process! And once you do come to terms with it, I'm sure you will have no problem eradicating the Voltron Force."
"What are you talking about?" she shouted.
"It's quite simple, General," Wade replied, walking into the lab. "You promised me years ago an army to help me stop the Voltron Force and wipe out Galaxy Garrison. I delivered on my end, but you…failed to do so on your end." She sneered at him.
"I was under orders!" she shouted. "King Bhorn doesn't trust you, and neither do I! And yet I brought you back to life!"
"After allowing the plan to fail, killing me in the process!" he shouted back. "In the end, we all suffer, General. The only difference now, is that if you fail, the Voltron Force will destroy you. And that will be a death you will never return from." Her analytical mind finally put two and two together, and figured out exactly what Maahox was going to do.
"No!" she shouted as Wade turned to walk away. "You can't do this!" He waved his hand, and Maahox pulled a lever. A Scorpion, glowing a bright haggarium purple, dropped to the ground, and as she fought to break free of her prison, crawled up her leg inside of her uniform. As it reached her inner thighs, it vanished from view beneath her armor, and she screamed and fell to the ground as it stung her from the inside repeatedly, and her body began to mutate and transform.
"I believe I already have," Wade replied as he walked out of the lab. She let out a blood curdling scream as she curled up in the fetal position, and spikes began to protrude from her back, and a bulbous tail began to grow from her backside. Maahox turned up the radiation, beaming with anticipation.
"Voltron Force," Commander Stormclaw said as he paced in front of the team, "I've called you here to perform a mission exercise. Things have been quiet around here, with the exception of the Lider Robeast incident. However, due to that incident, I feel now, more than ever, we must continue to be vigilant."
"I agree," Lysette said, walking into the Control Room.
"Admiral," he said, "To what do we owe the honor of your visit?"
"Relax, Mike," she replied. "Don't be so formal. These guys saved our butts on plenty of occasions. They've more than earned my respect." JC stared in her direction, while Roxy rolled her eyes. "That said, I'm not gonna sugar coat this mission. Yeah, it's an exercise. But it will still have its challenges. As you remember, Quantus is the galaxy's largest supplier of lason. Many worlds in the Galaxy Alliance rely on these shipments. The Drules haven't been very successful at hijacking these supplies as of late, but we have sources saying this large shipment to planet Hydra is under tight scrutiny by the Supremacy. I want you all to head to Quantus and investigate the shipment, then escort it to Hydra. Should you run into anything, well, you know what to do."
"Yes, ma'am," JC said with a salute. Roxy rolled her eyes again. Lysette noticed, but said nothing.
"You have your orders," Mike said. "Launch!" The five took off for the chutes and leaped into them. Each landed in their cockpit, then powered on the ships. The engines came to life, and all five blasted off from the hangar and zoomed off through the atmosphere. Lysette turned to Mike.
"Mike," she asked, "is there something wrong with Lieutenant Truvall?"
"How so?" he asked.
"Believe me," she replied, "I know when I see a look of jealous rage. Aren't she and Lieutenant Grend a couple?"
"I was under that impression," Mike replied.
"Whatever's going on," she said, "I don't want it to affect their work. I'm all about love in the workplace, Mike, but not if it's gonna cause friction." She nudged him with her elbow. "And not the good kind." He turned a slight shade of pink. "By the way, this came for you today. I suggest you take a look when you have a free minute." She handed Mike an envelope, then left the control room. He turned it over and read what was written on the front of it : Stasia.
"Commander," one of the soldiers said as they walked up to Kala, "the fleet is approaching Quantus. What are your orders?"
"We proceed as planned," she replied. "The robeast is not quite finished, so we will need to take a more tactical approach to this mission. I want the first and second wave of robot fighters to engage the Alliance forces protecting the shipment and the settlement. While distracted, I will need the remaining forces to land on the far side of Quantus and take back the base that we had established there, allowing us a more comfortable vantage point to launch a second attack from. This will need to be a discrete takeover, as to not arouse suspicion of the Alliance forces that we are present."
"What if the Voltron Force interferes?" the soldier asked. Kala's eyes narrowed.
"Blast them out of the sky!" she said. "I don't want excuses. They are nothing more than Academy Cadets. Prevent them from forming Voltron at all costs!"
"Yes, Commander," the soldier said with a salute. The ships began to move forward as a cohesive unit towards Quantus.
"McGovern," JC asked, "how soon until we're within range of Quantus?"
"We should be within range within a few minutes," Tails replied. "The modifications Chip and his team have done to the propulsion systems is amazing!"
"We can marvel over it later," JC said. "Truvall, how are the weapons systems?" There was nothing but silence over the com. "McGovern, will you ask Truvall if the weapons systems are online and ready?"
"Roxy, are the weapons systems working?" she asked.
"You can tell the Force Leader that the weapons systems are online and functioning," she replied.
"You copy that, boss?" Tails asked.
"Copy what?" JC asked. Tails sighed.
"Weapons systems are online and ready," Tails replied.
"Could you tell Truvall to prepare a test fire at these coordinates?" he asked.
"Dammit," Tails replied, "I'm not a messenger!"
"You're whatever I say you are, McGovern!" JC snapped back.
"Flacking snartbag," Roxy muttered.
"Guys," Seth shouted, "can we please focus?"
"Stay the flack out of this, Derringer!" Roxy shouted back.
"With all due respect, 'Lieutenant'," Seth replied, "I think you're being a bit out of line!"
"Grend is the one being out of line!" she snapped back.
"You're the one with the problem, Truvall!" JC shouted.
"Ugh!" Tails griped.
"STOP IT ALL OF YOU!" Dariana shouted. It suddenly went quiet, and they could hear her crying over the com. "Please…." Moments later, the ships were being bombarded by laser fire.
"What the flack?" JC shouted. "Drule ships! Everyone, evasive maneuvers!" The ships scattered and avoided the laser fire.
"It's an entire armada!" Tails shouted. "They seem to be moving in an organized but split formation. This isn't a random attack, this was planned!"
"I'm setting the weapons systems to converge on the command ship," Roxy said.
"We need to stay spread out and take out the robot fighters!" JC said. We need to stop them from destroying the defense installations near the mines!"
"Are you braindead?" Roxy shouted. "We need to cut off the head! Then the rest will fall!"
"We can't afford to take that risk!" JC said. "I'm giving you a direct order!"
"Since when do I take orders from YOU?" she shouted back. "Just because you had me on my back…"
"Look out!" Seth shouted. A barrage of laser fire hit Red and Black, damaging the engines, forcing them into a near freefall.
"I have no power!" JC shouted.
"I can't pull out!" Roxy shouted.
"That's what SHE said," Tails remarked.
"Not now, McGovern!" Seth replied, dodging more ships and firing back.
"We have to save them!" Dariana shouted.
"Who's gonna save us?" Tails shouted back. They watched as Black and Red spiraled out of control towards the surface of Quantus.
To be continued…..